CAPE MAY BIRDING HOTLINE - July 31, 2008

This is the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory. This week's message was prepared on Thursday, July 31, 2008. Highlights this week include sightings of WHITE IBIS, YELLOW RAIL, SURF SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER, HOODED MERGANSER, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, BROWN PELICAN, STILT SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL, BLACK TERN, SANDWICH TERN, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.

A juvenile WHITE IBIS was last reported from Brig/Forsythe NWR on 7/29. Also there this week was a YELLOW RAIL, reportedly seen and heard in the area of Gull Pond on 7/24 and 7/25. The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and GLAUCOUS GULL continued through 7/31.

Another juvenile WHITE IBIS was seen at Cape May Point State Park on 7/26. Presumably the same bird was also seen at the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR on 7/27.

An adult and a very recently-fledged SANDWICH TERN were observed at Champagne Island on 7/26, possibly indicating a first breeding record for New Jersey.

Reports from the South Cape May Meadows/CMMBR this week included BLACK TERN on 7/29, as well as BROWN PELICAN, STILT SANDPIPER and 14 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on 7/28. The HOODED MERGANSER continued through 7/31.

A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was noted flying over Cape May Point State Park on 7/25.

BLACK and SURF SCOTERS were noted south of the Ocean Avenue beach-access in Cape May Point on 7/26.

Migrants tallied at Higbee Beach WMA this week included the season's first BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
CMBO's Northwood Center will be closed THURSDAY, AUGUST 7. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

CMBO is offering a special to new and upgraded membership renewals. Join CMBO for the first time or upgrade from Individual or Family to The Hundred and receive Charley Harper's Migration Mainline- Cape May lithograph poster, valued at $50. Call either CMBO center to ask an associate about joining today!

******CMBO Bookstore SUMMER HOURS (June - August) are as follows: Northwood Center on East Lake Drive in Cape May Point is open Wednesday through Monday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Tuesdays. The Center for Research and Education on Rt. 47 in Goshen is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm; closed Mondays.******

The Cape May Birding Hotline is a service of the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory and details sightings from Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic Counties. Updates are made weekly. Please report sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at 609-884-2736. Sponsorship for this hotline comes from the support of CMBO members and business members, and should you not be a member, we cordially invite you to join. Individual membership is $39 per year; $49 for families. You can call either center to become a member or visit. Become a member in person and you'll receive a FREE gift (in addition to member discount in the stores).

Good Luck and Good Birding!